One by one, they lamented about the potential for landscape and life-altering change in a historically quiet community known for its winding rural roads, preserved land and bucolic views.

The thought of seeing dump trucks by the dozens barreling down narrow lanes, dealing with solitude-interrupting noise and the threat of dry wells have haunted homeowners in Lower Milford Township for more than a decade.

With state environmental regulators considering a permit for the proposed Geryville Materials Inc. quarry at Kings Highway and West Mill Road, years of fear and anxiety were palpable during a more than hourlong Wednesday night public hearing at which some predicted an operating quarry would lead to the destruction of Lower Milford, the quality of life for people who live in it and the demise of the Hosensack Creek.

"We believe this development will result in the deterioration of air quality and water quality," said Joyce Marin, executive director of RenewLV, an organization that promotes smart growth and smart governance in the Lehigh Valley. "It would be hard to prove there is an overall benefit to the township and overall region. We believe this development would reduce the quality of life."

Marin was among more than a dozen people who spoke in opposition to Geryville's proposal for a surface mining permit for 127-plus acres, the latest version of proposal first pitched 11 years ago. Among those to get their opposition on record were a representative from the office of State Rep. Justin Simmons, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and a member of Trout Unlimited.

MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO, THE MORNING CALL

Lower Milford residents spoke out against a proposed quarry during a public hearing held by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Lower Milford residents spoke out against a proposed quarry during a public hearing held by the state Department of Environmental Protection. (MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO, THE MORNING CALL)

The Lower Milford Residents Association maintains that a quarry would disrupt lives with noise, blasting, stone crushers and truck traffic, threaten air quality and adversely affect water in the area.

No one in the crowd of at least 120 at the Lower Milford municipal building spoke in favor of the permit and no Geryville representatives spoke at the meeting held exclusively to solicit public comments.

The quarry proposal has become an emotional and costly one for the township, which has spent in excess of $1 million fighting the quarry and defending its ordinances and position.

The township Planning Commission, following 20 hearings on the proposal between 2009 and 2011, unanimously rejected it, saying Geryville erroneously considered its 85-acre property one parcel when it submitted site capacity calculations and that the plan was impermissible because it addressed only 85 of the company's 628 acres. The Planning Commission also maintained that the plan did not comply with natural resources provisions in the township's zoning ordinance.

But a 2012 Commonwealth Court decision rejected the township's decision, allowing the project to proceed. The state Supreme Court subsequently decided not to hear the township's appeal of the Commonwealth Court ruling.

A pending proceeding before the zoning hearing board, which has to rule on a special request for a special exception for the quarry, began, but has been on hold for more than a year.

Val Britton said he disagrees with Geryville's claims that the operation would have no impact on wetlands, surface water and groundwater, saying there have been "significant deficiencies" in the way the project has been evaluated.

Now that the proposal is before the state Department of Environmental Protection, future reviews could take months, if not years. The DEP is completed a technical review of the application to determine if it meets state and federal requirements. It is accepting public comments through July 3.

"We're a long ways out here," said Colleen Connolly, a DEP spokeswoman.

Bucks County attorney John Rice, who represents the residents group, said there are economic issues to consider in addition to the environmental aspects of a quarry.

He said about 6,500 acres in the township are in an agricultural security district, that the state's Municipalities Planning Code says zoning ordinances shall protect prime agricultural land and encourage the viability of agricultural operations in a state that relies heavily on farming.

He said a quarry could have a significant impact the groundwater farmers rely on.

"It's not something that farmers aren't going to notice," he said. "Agriculture is the largest business in the state. It's the biggest generator of money. You need to be looking for ways not to issue a permit for this quarry."